About this artwork

Maggie McEleny was born in Greenock and represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a swimmer at four Paralympic Games between 1992 and 2004. She won three gold, five silver and seven bronze medals. At the Sydney 2000 Games she carried the team flag at the opening ceremony and was a torch bearer at the London 2012 Paralympics. At the age of eleven, McEleny suffered a head injury which resulted in her developing paraplegia and epilepsy. Renowned for her efficient stroke technique and elegant style of swimming, McEleny later became a swimming coach at her club, Port Glasgow Otters. She was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. This portrait is a study for the group painting by Lessore, Six British Paralympic Athletes (2004) which was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
    John Lessore (born 1939) English
  • title:
    Maggie McEleny, b. 1965. Paralympic athlete
  • date created:
    2002 - 2004
  • materials:
    Oil on canvas
  • measurements:
    61.00 x 46.00 cm; Framed: 74.20 x 59.00 x 4.80 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    Purchased 2004
  • accession number:
    PG 3375
  • gallery:
  • depicted:
  • subject:
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John Lessore

John Lessore